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S 275

An act relating to creation of the Cemetery Vandalism Response Fund

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Collamore and 2 co-sponsors

Creates a dedicated Cemetery Vandalism Response Fund administered by VOCA to provide grants for repairing vandalized Vermont cemeteries, funded by per-burial/cremation fees.

Referred to Committee on Finance per Senate Rule 31
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Bill Summary · S 275

Overview

S.275, introduced in the Vermont Senate (2025-2026) by Sen. Weeks, with co-sponsors Sen. Collamore and Sen. Williams, creates the Cemetery Vandalism Response Fund and the related grant program to assist in repairing vandalized cemeteries. The Vermont Old Cemetery Association (VOCA) administers the fund and processing of grants.

Purpose and intent

  • Establish a dedicated funding mechanism to repair cemetery vandalism in Vermont.
  • Provide timely grants to agencies responsible for cemeteries to cover qualifying damage that cannot be repaired through regular maintenance or owner/family funding.
  • Encourage reporting, documentation, and coordination with VOCA to streamline restoration after vandalism incidents.

Key provisions and changes

Definitions (amended § 5302)

  • Clarifies terms used in the chapter, including:

    • Agencies: town cemeteries, religious/ecclesiastical cemeteries, cemetery associations, or any cemetery business entity.
    • Niche, Temporary receiving vault, Regular maintenance (upkeep like mowing and tree removal).
    • Vandalism: willful or malicious destruction/defacement of cemetery property (e.g., toppled stones, damaged crypts, niches, gravesites, monuments).

  • Qualifying damage: damage that cannot be repaired by regular maintenance.

Cemetery Vandalism Response Grants (new § 5324)

  • Grant administrator: VOCA provides grants to agencies to repair vandalized cemeteries.

  • Reporting and notice (within 30 days of vandalism discovery):

    • Agencies must report vandalism to VOCA.
    • Provide written notice to lot owners/next of kin if damage affects crypts, niches, graves, monuments, or memorials; notice should advise pursuing any applicable insurance benefits. Copy of notice to be kept by the agency.

  • Grant applications (within six months of reporting):

    • Must include description and photos of damage, date of report, attempts to obtain family funding/insurance, copies of related reports, bids from at least two contractors, and a sworn statement from cemetery officials that funds are unavailable and costs are fair and reasonable.

  • Review and determination (within 90 days of complete application):

    • VOCA reviews based on: existence and severity of damage, whether part of a wave of vandalism, emotional impact on families, prior use/appropriateness of previous fund payments, application priority, and fund availability.

  • Disbursement and use of funds:

    • VOCA treasurer disburses funds directly to the cemetery official responsible for repairs.
    • Funds must be applied to the described repairs; any remaining funds must be returned to VOCA for the fund.
    • A final report (within 90 days of disbursement) detailing repairs, funds expended, and any amount to be returned must be sworn by cemetery officials. If repairs are unfinished, provide reasons and a revised timeline.

Cemetery Vandalism Response Fund (new § 5325)

  • Creation and administration:

    • The Fund is established to provide grants for vandalism repairs and administered by VOCA.
    • Funds to be used solely for Cemetery Vandalism Response Grants.

  • Fees and collection:

    • Each agency must contribute $5 per burial or cremation. No fee if cremation already taxed for a prior burial.
    • Annual reporting deadline: by January 15 each year, agencies report the total collected in the prior year and transmit payment to VOCA, accompanied by a sworn certification of the counts. Funds are disbursed to VOCA on January 31 each year.

Initial fee collection

  • VOCA will begin collecting initial fees starting January 1, 2027 for burials/cremations occurring between July 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026, to seed the fund.

Effective date

  • The act takes effect July 1, 2026.

Who is affected

  • Vermont cemeteries and cemetery agencies (town, religious, cemetery associations, etc.) will be subject to the new per-burial/cremation fee and reporting requirements.
  • VOCA will administer the fund, review applications, disburse grants, and manage accountability/reporting.
  • Families and next of kin may receive notices when vandalism impacts a burial site.
  • Contractors and cemetery officials involved in repair projects will participate via bids and final reporting.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Vandalism discovery: agencies must notify VOCA within 30 days.
  • Grant window: applications must be submitted within six months of discovery.
  • VOCA review: decisions within 90 days of complete application.
  • Disbursement and reporting: funds disbursed after approval; final report due within 90 days post-disbursement.
  • Fund administration: annual collection deadline (January 15) with funds disbursed to VOCA on January 31 each year.
  • Initial seed collection: starts January 1, 2027 for a prior mid-2026 period to fund the program.
  • Effective date: July 1, 2026.

Summary

S.275 creates a dedicated fund (Cemetery Vandalism Response Fund) to finance repair of vandalized Vermont cemeteries, with VOCA as the grant administrator. It establishes criteria for documenting, prioritizing, and reimbursing qualifying damage, mandates reporting to VOCA, requires notification to affected families, and imposes a per-burial/cremation fee to fund the program. The bill outlines application requirements, review standards, and reporting obligations to ensure transparent use of funds and timely restoration of vandalized sites.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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